Before you start

An SSN or ITIN
Form W-4 with your employer for federal withholding
Minnesota Form W-4MN for state withholding, where your situation differs from the federal form
A Certificate of Rent Paid from your landlord, if you rent
Records of foreign income and foreign financial accounts

Step-by-step

1
Complete the W-4 and, where needed, the W-4MN
Federal withholding runs off the W-4. Minnesota withholding generally follows it, but Form W-4MN exists for cases where your state position differs — a treaty exemption, or a different allowance position. Getting the federal form wrong remains the most common cause of an April surprise.
Via employerWho: YouFirst week of employment
2
Determine your US tax residency
The substantial presence test counts weighted days across three years to decide whether the US taxes your worldwide income or only US-source income. Your visa category does not decide this.
OnlineWho: You
3
Check for an applicable tax treaty
The US has treaties with around 70 countries that can reduce or exempt tax on particular income. Minnesota's return starts from federal figures, so a federal treaty position generally flows through — but confirm the specific treatment with the Department of Revenue rather than assuming.
OnlineWho: You
4
Get the Certificate of Rent Paid from your landlord
Minnesota landlords must issue tenants a Certificate of Rent Paid after the year end. It is what you need to claim the renter's property tax refund, which is now claimed on the state income tax return rather than on a separate form. Chase it if it does not arrive — it is real money and a large share of eligible renters never claim.
OnlineWho: YouEarly in the year, for the year before
5
File federal and Minnesota returns by 15 April
The tax year is the calendar year. Minnesota's return begins from federal figures and then applies its own additions, subtractions and credits, so file the federal one first.
OnlineWho: YouBy 15 April annually
6
Expect the paid leave deduction on your payslip
Minnesota's state paid family and medical leave programme began paying benefits in 2026, funded by a payroll premium split between employer and employee. The rate is set by the state and adjusts, so read your payslip rather than assuming a figure.
Via employerWho: You and your employer
7
File an FBAR if foreign accounts exceed $10,000
Aggregate foreign account balances over $10,000 at any point in the year trigger a FinCEN filing, separate from your tax return and with its own penalties.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Form W-2 from each employer, issued by 31 January
Form 1099s for freelance, interest and investment income
Certificate of Rent Paid from your landlord, if you rent
Passport and travel history for the substantial presence day count
Foreign account statements for FBAR reporting

Things most newcomers don’t know

Clothing carries no sales tax in Minnesota at all.

This is a genuine and unusual exemption — people drive in from neighbouring states to shop, which is part of why Mall of America works. Combined with the grocery exemption it materially softens the high income tax for anyone on an ordinary salary, and it is the single most commonly missed fact when people compare Minnesota to a no-income-tax state on headline rates alone.

Source: Minnesota Department of Revenue

Renters get a property tax refund, and most never claim it.

Minnesota treats a share of your rent as property tax paid and refunds part of it based on income. Your landlord must give you a Certificate of Rent Paid, and the refund is now claimed on the state income tax return rather than on a separate form — which caught out people used to the old process. It is worth hundreds of dollars for many tenants.

Source: Minnesota Department of Revenue — renter's property tax refund

A new payroll deduction started appearing in 2026.

Minnesota's state paid family and medical leave programme began paying benefits in 2026 and is funded by a payroll premium split between employer and employee. Newcomers reading an older salary comparison will not have modelled it. The rate is set by the state and changes, so check the current figure rather than a blog post.

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development — Paid Leave

Your visa does not determine your tax residency.

The substantial presence test — a weighted day count across three years — decides whether the US taxes your worldwide income. Someone on a temporary visa can be a US tax resident; someone on a long visa can fail the test. Do the count rather than assuming.

Source: IRS — substantial presence test

Common mistakes to avoid

Never claiming the renter's property tax refund because the Certificate of Rent Paid never arrived and you did not chase it.
Comparing Minnesota to a no-income-tax state on the income rate alone, ignoring the clothing and grocery exemptions.
Assuming your visa type settles your tax residency.
Missing the FBAR because a home-country account did not feel 'foreign'.
Believing a filing extension also extends the payment deadline.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.

Make it your personal checklist

Globe Quest turns this into a tracked, AI-personalized plan for Minneapolis — timed to your move date, with reminders so nothing slips. Free to start.